Earlier this week, the Internet was abuzz with rumors of Jeffrey Deitch’s departure from MOCA. At 9:37 PM Eastern Standard Time, MOCA sent out an email announcing a major change ahead for Los Angeles’ contemporary art museum.

Heather Corcoran will be Rhizome’s new Executive Director, a reliable source tells us today. Corcoran is a freelance curator and media expert who’s currently based in London. She will start in October and replaces outgoing Executive Director Lauren Cornell.

Thanks to GalleristNY for publishing an email with the names of the Whitney Biennial artists. So far the blog’s only been able to confirm 8 of the 51 names, but we’re republishing the list with some initial thoughts.

Sotheby's held its best auction in three years last night, while just outside its heavily-guarded headquarters at 1334 York Avenue over a hundred students, union workers, and Occupy Wall Street protesters picketed the auction house’s lockout of 42 union art handlers. Chanting such teamster slogans such as “What's disgusting? Union busting!” and blowing whistles in front of a pair of inflatable mascots – one a rat, the other a fat cat squeezing a worker in its fist – the protests had seemingly little effect on the auction, which cleared an estimated $315.8 million and exceeded the high estimate of $270.8 million. The art handlers have been locked out by the auction company over a contract dispute that began July 29.